IAP’S SEASON OPENER FORETELLS BOTTOM’S DREAM!
By Julie Anne Phillipps, Associate Editor WestExpress
ASU West Campus’s staid intellectual repose faltered Wednesday evening as a throng of well-attired lords and ladies, meagerly clad maidens, colorful court jesters, rag-tag hags and staggering drunkards swirled through the courtyards to accept center stage for the night’s performance. On October 17, 2001, the Interdisciplinary Art and Performance’s season opener transformed FAB courtyard with, “Shakespeare under the Stars.”
The evening’s program, the inspiration of Rick Alpers, a Graduate student in the ASU West’s Interdisciplinary Arts and Performance (IAP) Department, included sixty high school and middle school actors along with the Glendale Shakespeare Company presenting scenes from the Bard’s plays. The twenty-five individual interpretative offerings, acted in three stage areas, began in front of the FAB building under the direction of IAP graduate students and area High School drama teachers.
Jeff Kennedy, IAP director, called the audience to attention as the performers revived Shakespeare with youthful exuberance. In the sundial stage area Brian Bergman as Speed, and Ricardo Chilaco as Porteus, presented a boisterous rendition of the satiric opening scene from “Two Gentlemen from Verona.” Jessica Moul and Dannette Shoemaker as witches and Matt Ingebrigtsen as Macbeth bewitched an enthusiastic crowd of friends and family on the second stage with scenes from “Macbeth.” Sharon Pinches from Paradise Valley High School enthralled the audience, gathered around the third stage, with her dramatic rendition of Juliet’s speeches from “Romeo and Juliet.” Although the audience appeared distracted by the numerous acts carried out at the multiple outdoor stages, the South Mountain High School actors relished the unique staging.
“It [Shakespeare] was originally played outdoors, doing this gets us back to our roots,” said Brian Bergmann. Cris Hernandez added, “It’s great because you have to adapt to the challenge of moving from stage to stage in an outdoor space, but it also allows you to see how others do it.”
The South Mountain players also found the depth of Shakespeare’s work compelling. “With Shakespeare you have to catch the meaning between the lines,” said Marcelino Quinonez. Fellow South Mountain actor, Ricardo Chilaca added, “You have to research the play and the characters to understand the meaning of the play.” The difficulty of interpreting and performing Shakespeare does not prevent the South Mountain players from embracing Shakespeare.
“Shakespeare is romantic and poetic. You have to put yourself into it,” said Michelle Leah Richards.”
“It does my heart good to see this campus alive with Shakespeare, alive with theater,” said Provost Elaine Maimon thanking the artists before the evening’s final performances.
Witches toiled while shrieks filled the air as Westwood High School took the stage in a creative rendition of Macbeth with the central characters wading through a sea of evil characters writhing around their feet. Westwood players created the costumes and makeup used in their composition. Zach Moore moved gracefully through a physically demanding production, though afterwards his shoulders bore welts from the 60-plus pounds of chain mail.
Westwood players, Jacob Talbot, Amanda Pedersen, Molly Shumway and Amie Dines, assisting with wardrobe, enjoyed acting in the outdoor stages particularly because of the “incredible” acoustics that the Courtyard provided. Kesha Hodges, Matt MacDonald, Amanda Pulley and Gabe Goubeauz from North Canyon High School donned togas for their appearance in Act III, scene 11 from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the second of five staged shows in the courtyard. Followed by Paradise Valley High School players; Kate Haas, Michael Worth, Sharon Pinches, Andrew Hall, Scott Berger, Catherine Wagner, Andrea Collins, Kasey Humble, Jackie McCuen, and Ashley Anderson, portraying a compilation of Act I from “The Tempest.”
South Mountain’s comic rendition of Act III, scene 11 of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with Lisa Marie Cons, Cris Hernandez Marcelino Quinonez, and Michelle Leah Richards ended the students’ portion of the evening’s entertainment. The Shakespeare Theater Company performing scenes from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” closed the evening with Bruce Alvin as Bottom and Josh DeRusha, Matt Logan, Richard Marten, Ric Alpers as Bottom’s fellow craftsmen.
The audience enthusiastically responded to Puck’s final request, “So good night unto you all. Give me your hands, if we be friends.” The entertainment will begin anew on November 17, starting at 7:30 p.m, when IAP presents, The Phoenix Symphony Orchestra playing a collection of “German Romantics” in La Sala.